Hockey Night in CanadaCoach Randy Carlyle humiliated by Leafs' effort

Posted: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 | 09:53 AM

The Leafs' Joffrey Lupul, left, and Carl Gunnarsson, right, battle for control of the puck with Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov, middle, behind the net during Tuesday's game. It was one of the few times Toronto contained Florida as the Panthers fired 48 shots in a 4-1 win. (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs allowed the players to bring their fathers to Florida for a two-game road trip, an annual occurrence, and then thoroughly embarrassed their pops by dropping a 4-1 decision to the Panthers in Florida.

Just a guess here, but there might be a few members of the Toronto Maple Leafs who are grounded and won't get their allowance this week.

The Maple Leafs allowed the players to bring their fathers to Florida for a two-game road trip, an annual occurrence, and then thoroughly embarrassed their pops by dropping a 4-1 decision to the Panthers in Florida.

The score flattered the Maple Leafs. They would have lost by more if not for the spectacular effort by goaltender Jonathan Bernier.

Toronto was outshot by Florida 48-21. To give that a little perspective, entering the game only two teams in the NHL had scored fewer goals than the Panthers. They are not exactly an offensive juggernaut. Florida outshot Toronto 19-4 in the first period and 18-8 in the second.

The Maple Leafs were only outshot 11-9 in the third. Embarrassing.

Not surprisingly, Toronto coach Randy Carlyle was unhappy at the end of the game.

"We really didn't have anything going," Carlyle said, clearly biting his tongue to not say anything he might regret later. "Other than there was one person in our lineup who was outstanding for the hockey club and that was out goaltender. We just didn't seem to have any jump or passion to play the game. It's kind of mind-boggling right now."

Carlyle went on to say he was humiliated by the fact his team was outshot so badly early in the game.

"We were just standing around," he said, "And they were jumping by us. It was like we weren't engaged in the hockey game at all."

Carlyle juggled his lines in the third period and it seemed to spark his club for a while, but ultimately it wasn't enough.

"We had nothing going and I explained to the group that we had a goaltender who was standing on his head and it was a 1-0 hockey game and let's give ourselves a chance and have a decent period to [possibly] steal some points," Carlyle said. "Those are wasted efforts. When you get an effort like that from your goaltender it's like a pitcher throwing a no-hitter."

BAM!

Toronto defenceman and captain Dion Phaneuf headed straight to the dressing room with an apparent upper body injury after being crunched into the boards by Florida's Sean Bergenheim at 18:40 of the first period. He returned early in the second period. After the game, head coach Carlyle said Phaneuf had the wind knocked out of him.

NO COMMENT ... SORT OF

Carlyle was asked after the game about the fact his team did not get a power play in the game and it was suggested to him his team had to work harder to earn one. He did not agree and said, "I have a different view of it."

One suspects he believes his team deserved an odd-man advantage. Another thing is for certain; officiating did not cost the Maple Leafs the game.

CLOSE, BUT NO CROSSBAR

The Maple Leafs, despite being severely outshot and outplayed in the first period, appeared to take a 1-0 lead at 17:05 on a Dion Phaneuf snap shot. It looked for a bit like the puck went through the net, but video replay concluded it actually went over the net, barely missing the crossbar.

Just to get even Phaneuf held Bergenheim late in the second period and put the Panthers on the power play.

CLARKSON RETURNS

Right-winger David Clarkson missed eight games with an infected elbow and got back into action Tuesday night. His struggles as a Maple Leaf continued ... for two periods. Clarkson was in the penalty box, albeit for a weak slashing call, when Florida took a 1-0 lead at 1:14 of the second period.

In the third, though, his hard work and persistence paid off with a goal that pulled his team to within one, making it 2-1 for Florida. It was his fourth goal of the season.

KADRI CLICKS

Centre Nazem Kadri continues to hold a hot stick for the Maple Leafs. He drew an assist on Clarkson's goal and now had 18 points in his last 15 games.

GLOVES COME OFF

Toronto defenceman Jake Gardiner engaged in his first fight, perhaps ever, in the second period against Jonathan Huberdeau. It wasn't much of a bout, but Gardiner might want to consider keeping the gloves on ... tightly. It was Huberdeau's first NHL fight, too. He should also keep the mitts on.

LIKE SON; LIKE FATHER

The Maple Leafs players brought their dads along for the Florida trip. All the fathers wore Maple Leafs jerseys with their son's numbers on their backs.

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About the Author

Mike BrophyMike Brophy brings a wealth of hockey writing and broadcasting experience to CBC Sports, having covered junior hockey for 14 years before joining The Hockey News as its senior writer for 17 years starting in 1992. Most recently, the Burlington, Ont., native worked as a writer/commentator at Rogers Sportsnet and as co-host of The Power Play on SiriusXM. Mike has written four books, including My First Goal, featuring 50 players describing their first NHL goals.

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